Burning pain in ankle post surgery

I had surgery on 12/26/17 and have been and still am experiencing much of what everyone else has and wanted to share some information I received today. Before I do, just a quick recap of my situation. I am a middle aged male and suffered a Trimalleolar Fracture and dislocation of my right ankle. Two pins, a plate, a hinge and from what I can count on the X-ray at least 6 screws. I slipped on ice. Very glamorous, I know.

?Two weeks after surgery the sutures, staples, splints and cast  were removed, I was wrapped in an Ace bandage and put in a boot by the surgeons PA. I was given Hydrocodone for pain. Almost immediately after getting home, I started feeling a constant and a majority of the time, severe burning pain on the inside of my ankle. Most noticeably in the evening and through the night This is still going on to THIS DAY. However I have news. 

?Continuing on, I saw my surgeon about 5 weeks from surgery date and told her of the severe burning. She said that was normal and part of the healing process. Told me to come back in one week as I had developed some pressure sores. Bone pain was minimal, I had very little aching. The burning pain did not stop. I was still using Hyrdocodone but it did nothing for the burning pain. 

?Back the following week, no improvement. When I say burning pain I mean really bad someone stabbing me with a sharp knife type of pain. I was in utter misery, especially at night. So on this visit I am prescribed Gabapentin as a treatment. It's a nerve drug. Sores healing and scabbing but the inside ankle where the sutures were was very reddish and raw still. Scheduled to come back again in a week. 

?Week 7, still no improvement. I was told to stop the Gabapentin if it's not helping and I may have an infection. So I was prescribed a 7 day supply of Bactrim, an antibiotic. Told to come back in a week. Low and behold, 3 days later the burning pain starts to subside. I'm thrilled. 

?Week 8, I come back and I'm feeling better, I can deal with the burning pain and am now scheduled for PT and to come back again in 2 weeks.

?Three days after my Dr's visit and a day before my first PT appointment, the burning pain starts to come back and get bad again. After my second PT appointment I am told by the head PT that he thinks I may still have an infection and to call my Surgeon, which I do. She gets me back on the Bactrim.  

?So I've been on the Bactrim again and on the 5th day of seven the pain is getting moderately better but still enough to keep me miserable at night. To compound matters, I have had a tingling in my foot and toes of my injured foot and noticed my foot is swelling again, turning a dark red and my toe nails are turning darkish blue. This is happening about 5 - 7 times a day. I sent pictures of this to my surgeon over the weekend before seeing her today. 

?When I get in the office she tells me straight out she thinks she has figured it out. I have a rare disorder called RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy). Its pretty much untreatable and was triggered by the surgery. The symptoms are all a result of the nerves in your foot going insane, I was told. They are telling the body something is really wrong and not listening to the body's healing process and are acting on their own. I was told that once I beat this infection, she prescribed 7 more days of Bactrim, she is confident the symptoms of the RSD will subside and possibly be gone. I am trying to remain optimistic.

?The reason I posted this is because most everyone on this subject never seemed to have an answer or resolution. I was so discouraged and felt so helpless. There was no way I could have any quality of life with this burning pain that I was getting no answers on. I feel for you and still in the same situation you were. So whether it's an infection or the possibility of this RSD syndrome not being as rare as they claim, I sure hope I get better. If you are feeling the same, maybe have your Dr look in to an infection or this RSD diagnosis. 

?Good luck to all of you. I will follow up after next weeks appointment to let you know. 

?Again, hope this helps as I can imagine what your going through. 

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